Spain now has the longest high-speed rail network in Europe, surpassing France. Yet France still has a huge lead in terms of passenger travel. European countries remain among the world’s passenger rail leaders. But relative to population, Japan is the overall champion.

Many governments lavish money on their armed forces and weapons manufacturers, but are tight-fisted when it comes to financing climate protection programs. Sealing the climate deal in Copenhagen in December will require adequate financing. World military expenditures are higher now than at any time since World War II. It is time to re-order budget priorities.